This
painting celebrated the day, during the 1830 Revolution, that
the people rose and fought for their liberty. Delacroix used
the painting as a political poster for the revolution. Delacroix
was a member of the National Gaurd, and he placed himself into
the picture as the man on the left wearing a top-hat (close-up
shown below).

Argan
defined this canvas as the first political work of modern painting.
There is a sense of full participation from the artist. With
the outstretched figure of liberty, the vibrant, bold fighters
contrasting to the lifeless dead casualties in the foreground,
the heroic poses of the people fighting for liberty, the painting
illustrates the struggle of the people for their liberty, and
allows the viewer to empathize with that struggle.

Delacroix is on the right
wearing a top hat and seems very serious as he fights for the
liberty of the people.